Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) and San Jose Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) intend to construct and operate a joint-use 21st century education center at Russell Middle School, with construction to be financed by SJECCD and jointly operated by the parties for the purpose of offering college educational support to the entire Milpitas community. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the MUSD and SJECCD boards on November 13, 2012 as a guiding document for the Parties with regard to the development of the Joint Use Center and the potential construction, organizational and operational responsibilities of the Parties.

Milpitas Unified School District is located within the geographical boundaries of San Jose Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD). SJECCD encourages graduates of all high schools within its boundaries to enroll at either of its campuses, but often residents will attend colleges in neighboring community college districts due to issues of commuting distance, time of day, and the types of courses offered. Creating a local community college in Milpitas is a long-term goal of SJECCD that would benefit MUSD students and residents.

In anticipation of this Joint Project, MUSD and SJECCD launched an initial test of the University Studies Pilot Program (USPP) in the 2011-12 school year at Milpitas High School. The USPP provided MUSD students the opportunity to experience college courses and earn transferable community college credits, which were also applicable toward high school graduation requirements.

MUSD and SJECCD intend to construct and operate a joint-use 21st century education center at Russell Middle School, with construction to be financed by SJECCD and jointly operated by the parties for the purpose of offering college educational support to the entire Milpitas community. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the MUSD and SJECCD boards on November 13, 2012 as a guiding document for the Parties with regard to the development of the Joint Use Center and the potential construction, organizational and operational responsibilities of the Parties. The MOU identifies the following organizational, operational, and land lease elements the parties will seek to establish through future agreements for the Joint Use Project.

Land – MUSD is the owner of the real property where the Joint Center will be built, a portion of which will be used for construction of the building and associated improvements constituting the Joint Use Facility.Funding – SJECCD has identified up to $10,000,000 of capital construction funding in its Measure G 2004 Bond Measure to pay for the design and construction of the Joint Use Facility.Lease – The exact location of the Joint Use Facility on the site will be mutually agreed upon and established in a future agreement or long term land lease. As owner of the real property, MUSD will be the “lessor” on the lease. SJECCD will be the “lessee” on the lease. SJECCD will be the owner of the Joint Use Facility, with details regarding either Party buying the other out at the conclusion of the lease to be negotiated and included in a separate lease agreement, subject to the provisions of the Education Code and the State. Some classrooms in the Joint Use Facility can be used for MHS classes, which will help alleviate the overcrowding at the high school.

The SJECCD curriculum to be offered at the Joint Use Center during the normal high school day will be the outcome of a collaborative educational planning and programming process and will focus on meeting the needs of MUSD’s accelerated learning program.

​The Governing Board is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. (BP 0410)